41

I go back to work and stay silent. Idon'tknow what else to do.There'sno report of another murder; Jackson must have disposed ofTerrance'sbody after I ran.

Part of me wants to scream the truth to Hawkins. ButI'mterrified of being dismissed as crazy and Jackson targeting my team.

Thenthere"sthe part thatdoesn'tevenwant to see Jackson behind bars. Arresting him means the end of this connection we share.

But I need to outmaneuver him somehow. Which is why, an hour after my shift,I'msitting in the living room of JacksonKeller'smentor.

I need to know if Jackson was telling me the truth.

Everything in here is antique and pristinely maintained. The walls are lined with shelves of intimidating-looking books with titles like Man'sSearch for Meaning and The Psychopathology of Everyday Life.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me today, Dr Lund."

Dr Henrik Lund peers back at me. I recognize him fromJackson'soffice,the day of my first session.He'sa warm-eyed man in his sixties, dressed in a tweed jacket with a packet of cigarettes peeking out of his pocket.

"That'squite all right, Detective Cain."He picks a cigarette out of the pack."Forgive me.It'sa nasty habit, but latelyI'vebeen under some stress. I suppose old habits never truly die."

"Was that stress something to do witha former student of yours?"I carefully ask.

"Ah, I thought I might know whyyou'vecome to see me here today, Detective."

My eyebrows rise. "What's your suspicion?"

"Let's not beat around the bush, here."

I nod."Dr Jackson Keller."

He sighs, turning his head to exhale smoke away from me."Has he gotten himself into some sort of trouble?"

"I'mafraid so, Dr Lund."

"That was my fear."

"So Dr Keller has been involved in criminal activity before?"

"Never. Well, not sincehistrespassing incidents."He laughs at my expression."He used to sneak into my lectures before he was a student. He was skating by working in bars and washing dishes.I saw his potential and helpedto secure him a place at the university.From then on, he thrived."

Lund'slove for Jackson is evident in his words. But it sounds nostalgic, as if that version of Jackson no longer exists.

"Dr Keller told meyou'relike a father to him,"I say softly.

DrLund'sexpression shifts to something haunted."Tell me what he did, Detective Cain. Why are you asking after him?"

"Ihave reason to believe Dr Keller is connected to a caseI'mworking on.I know he has a spotless reputation in Brookhaven: a highly educated psychiatrist,patron of the arts, friends in high places.But have you ever seen a different side of him?"

For a while, Lund is quiet. Then he leans forward."May I speak off the recordfor a moment, Detective Cain?"

I nod.

"I'monly telling you this because I care about him. At a young age, Jackson experienced abusive circumstances that left him scarred for life. Buthe'snever been able to clearly rememberthe details ofwhat happened."

My stomach flips as Lund continues.

"He recently came to me, confessing his concerns about periods of missing time. Halfway through the conversation, it was like a switch flipped. He attacked and threatened me."Lund shakes his head."Idon'tbelieve that was the Jackson I knew. It was like a… shadow-self took control."

My palms are suddenly clammy.It sounds likeJacksonwasn'tlying to me about his past last night.

So when I felt like I was being pulled in two directions, betweenJackson'slight andHyde'sfucked-up darkness, I really was. All his words of kindness and comfort werereal. But so wereHyde'scursed, intoxicating words and touches.

"Can you help him?"

The words fall from my lips. I should be thinking about arresting Jackson, not helping him. But Ican'tstop myself.

Lund sighs."Idon'tknow.He'sa good man, Detective. ButI'mafraid of what he might do whenhe'snot himself.I'mconcerned there will be a point when the darkness within him takes control for good."

It feels likethere'sa weight in my chest. I think that day has already come.

Lund eyes me."Jackson was treating you as a patient, yes?"

I shift in my seat."That'snot relevant."

"Ithought I recognized you. I saw you inJackson'swaiting room."

Slowly, I nod."It'strue. My boss sent me to see him after I got in trouble at work. But that was before I knew Jackson had any connection to this."

Lund sighs."What is he mixed up in?"

I hesitate, chewing on my lip."Have you heard anything about the Hyde murders, Dr Lund?"

It'sa question I know the answer to. Youcan'tavoid the headlines in Brookhaven.

Dr Lund's face grows pale. "You're—you're not suggesting he is responsible for those killings?"

Not suggesting. I know it.

"I have reason to believe there's a connection."

Dr Lund shakes his head in disbelief,hiseyes moving past me to stare into the distance. His voice is frail when he speaks, as ifhe'saged fifty years in the last few seconds."No. Not my boy.He'snot capable of that."

I feel a painful pang in my heart. I try to shut it away;I'malready way too tangled up in this case. I need to draw back ifI'mever going to put Jackson away for his crimes.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "But you said yourself that pain can unlock terrible things in people."

Creak.

I'm not shocked when I hear the living room door swing open. It's as if I've been half-expecting him to appear since the second I walked into Dr Lund's house.

Butthere'sstill unmistakable terror coursing through me at the sound.

Lund freezes, eyes wide, his gaze fixed behind me.

"What'sthe matter, Ava?Don'tyou trust the words from my mouth?"

Jackson'srich, deep voice fills the room. Without turning around, I can tellthere'sno mask covering his face this time.

Leather on my skin. His hand presses into my shoulder, his fingers tracing across my collarbone. Digging into the tender flesh and breakable bone. I slowly drag my gaze up; he stands looking down at me.

Heat and fear trickle through my veins. I knowexactlywhat Lund meant about being able to tellit'snot Jackson behind those eyes. Under his thick lashes,there'sonly more darkness. Butit'slike an undeniable vortex, pulling me inward.

Jackson'shand slips off my shoulder, leaving an icy absence behind. Lund trembles in his seat as Jackson advances. My eyes flit down toJackson'sother hand;he'sgripping the handle of his knife.

I spring to my feet, seizing my gun."Step away, Jackson."

He smiles, the glint of his blade catching the light as it hovers inches fromLund"sneck."If you pull that trigger,Henrik'sblood will be on your hands. I know you have a guilty conscience, little dove."

"Youwouldn'thurt him. I know what Lund means to you."

He slides the knife closer toLund'sthroat. The tip hits the skin, and Lund gasps in panic."Don'tmake bets if youcan'tafford to lose. Whydon'tyou give me your gun instead?"

I bite my lip. He's called my bluff; I can't risk an innocent life.

"Fine,"I mutter. I slowly kneel and slide my gun across the wooden floorboards towardhisfeet.

Jackson stops thegun'spath with one black combat boot."Good girl."

I bite my tongue as shivers roll across my skin. I hate that him calling me a good girl still makes me feel utterly on fire.

He crouches downand picksup the gun, then glances over at Lund."I'msorry, Henrik. You know Idon'twant to hurt you. But I had to get Ava to behave somehow,didn'tI?"

He turns to me."You'regoing to come with me, Ava.We'regoing to walk out of here together."

I shake my head defiantly."I'mnot going anywhere with you."

"I'velet you run around alone long enough.You'remine, Ava.It'stime you start acting like it."

"Jackson—"

He raises the gun."Idon'twant to point this at you, even after you pointed it at me. Rude little detective. I can think of some waysI'dlike to use this on you, but Idon'twant to put a bullet in that pretty little head of yours."

My stomach flips. I slowly nod.

He directs his gaze at Lund."I'llknow if you try to contact the police, Henrik. And then Iwon'tbe so forgiving."

He turns back to me. His face breaks into a smirk.

"Let's go, Detective."